Jakarta. Former Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said he was questioned by antigraft investigators on Wednesday (08/11) as a witness in the case against several suspects in the e-KTP corruption case, including House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto.

His comment confirmed a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) letter doing the rounds on Monday hinting that Novanto has been named a suspect for a second time in the case involving graft in the procurement of national electronic identity cards, or e-KTP, which resulted in Rp 2.3 trillion ($170 million) in state losses.

The Rp 5.9 trillion project commenced in 2011, while Gamawan was still the minister.

KPK investigators reportedly questioned Gamawan as a witness in the case against Anang Sugiana Sudihardjo, president director of Quadra Solution, which was part of a consortium that won the e-KTP procurement contract.

When asked if he was also questioned as a witness against Novanto and whether the latter's name was listed as a suspect in the summons letter, Gamawan answered: "Yes, Anang, Novanto, Irman and so on."

Former Home Affairs Ministry officials Irman and Sugiharto have already been convicted in the case.

Monday's letter, signed by KPK investigations director Aris Budiman, states that "on Oct. 31, an investigation already commenced into corruption in the implementation of the national electronic identity card system [...] allegedly committed by Setya Novanto."

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah confirmed on Tuesday that there is a fresh investigation and a new suspect.

The KPK declared Novanto a suspect in the case in June, but he was cleared in September after launching a pretrial motion in the South Jakarta District Court.

The Golkar Party chairman allegedly received Rp 574 billion from the procurement project, but he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

While leaving the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta after Wednesday's questioning, Gamawan denied that he ever had any discussions with Novanto.

"I only encountered him in House plenary meetings, together with other ministers," Gamawan said. "But I never got involved in deliberation on the budget for the procurement project."

The indictment against Irman and Sugiharto revealed in March that Gamawan allegedly received $4.5 million from the project.